Some of my earliest memories are from my endless fascination with flowers and objects that would later feed into the art that I now create. Turning the fleeting moments of everyday life -flowers or otherwise- into long lasting works of art is the motivation behind what I do.
Though painting offers its many challenges, it affords me and countless others the opportunity to express how we feel about something. No other art form puts an individual into the mind of the artist and allows them to see how he sees, and therefore experience what he also experienced. My life has thus far been a seemingly endless pursuit of developing the skill to better express how I see the beauty that I find in the world each day.
Daniel J. Keys was born on Oct. 7th, 1985, in Fresno CA.
Upon noticing a glimpse of artistic talent in him at an early age, Daniel was encouraged by his parents to pursue his passion, namely painting; and being entirely home educated, time was very permitting for him to develop his skill as a self-taught artist.
He started painting at the age of eleven using a paint set purchased with birthday money. It was later during his impressionable teenage years that Daniel discovered the work of Richard Schmid: a master artist whose works he later began emulating in his own paintings. Since that time Daniel has had opportunity to paint with his mentor, and Mr. Schmid has become a sort of art adviser to him throughout their close friendship.
In recent times, Daniel has taken up pastel painting in addition to his work in oils. Alternating between the two mediums, he has already established himself in the world of pastel painting through a highly successful one-man show, winning multiple awards through the International Association of Pastel Society as well as Pastel Society of America, and published in the esteemed Pastel Journal.
Daniel's work is now highly sought after by discerning collectors and hangs in many prominent collections throughout North America, Europe, and Russia. In addition to his art, he also teaches workshops that often draw students from around the world who seek out his esteemed instruction. He has won numerous awards including the Portrait Society of America’s “Draper Grand Prize 2018” award, and his work has graced the covers of multiple magazines including Art of the West, American Artist, American Art Collector (twice), Plein Air Magazine, Pastel Journal, Pastel World, and Pratique des Arts.
